Amber Road maintains the most comprehensive and robust database of global trade content, government regulations, and international business rules available today. We cover over 145 countries, roughly 95% of world trade making our trade content and content management process the best in the industry. This is the secret to our success and it's what makes us the world leader in global trade management software solutions and services.
Topics: Global Trade Management Software, GTM Best Practices, Trade Regulatory Content, Global Knowledge
If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that the global supply chain can’t expect a continuation of the status quo, and even the surest predictions can be wrong. With last year’s tumultuous end in the rear-view mirror, global companies powering ahead into 2017 must be ready for regulatory change – both the predicted and unexpected.
Topics: Duty Management, Import Compliance, Export Compliance, Free Trade Agreements
Let’s say you’ve just imported a shipment of hoverboards to sell in the United States. You have screened all trading partners, tracked your shipment, ensured import compliance, and minimized your duty payments. However, your hoverboard isn’t legal to sell in the US just yet – it needs a label, and the guidelines surrounding packaging can be just as complicated as all the other steps you just completed.
Consumer Product Safety regulations and other OGAs exist to prevent customer deception (or facilitate value comparisons) about package contents, ingredients, size, manufacturer, and other concerns. Any deception or non-compliance can result in heavy fines, revoked license to sell, and unflattering brand attention. So how does a company ensure that it remains compliant?
Topics: Import Compliance, Product Classification, Product Claim Details and Storage, Product Testing
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed regulations that require US and certain foreign companies to report the use of “conflict minerals” from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or adjoining countries in their products.
Conflict minerals are mined under conditions of armed conflict and human rights abuse. Areas notably affected are in the eastern parts of Africa, where various armed rebel groups within the DRC are largely responsible for using these natural resources to finance continued fighting, but neighboring countries such as Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda have also profited significantly. Conflict minerals mined in the DRC are typically passed through various intermediaries before being finally purchased.
Topics: Global Trade Management Software, Global Sourcing, Import Management, Global Trade Management
On May 14, 2012, President Obama signed the presidential proclamation that put the US-Colombia free trade agreement into force. Designed to promote the flow of certain goods and services between the countries, the free trade agreement was years in the making.
Topics: Duty Management, Global Trade Content, Trade Regulatory Content, Free Trade Agreements
The terms “countervailing” and “anti-dumping duties” are often used together without necessarily distinguishing the two — in fact they are often abbreviated as ADD/CVD. What are these duties, and why are they important to supply chain managers?
Countervailing duties address the consequences of subsidies granted by governments for the production of certain goods. Subsidies effectively make goods less expensive, and when subsidized goods enter other countries, they may undercut or injure local producers. If there is a determination that Country A’s producers have been injured by Country B’s subsidies, then Country A may impose countervailing duties on the goods to close the price gap. Countervailing duties neutralize the negative effects of subsidies.
Topics: Landed Cost Calculation, Global Sourcing, Sourcing Analysis
An Inbound Logistics article in October 2003, “Understanding Incoterms,” does an excellent job of explaining the concept of Incoterms, why they are necessary and how they work. We’d like to bring this article up-to-date with a discussion of the changes to Incoterms that began in January 2011.
To recap, Incoterms are an internationally accepted set of standard commercial terms used between buyers and sellers. The terms determine who pays the cost of each transportation segment, who is responsible for loading and unloading of goods, and who bears the risk of loss at any given point during an international shipment.
Topics: Contract & Rate Management, Carrier Selection & Booking, Transportation Management
Every year I attend a number of industry conferences focused on global trade compliance. I speak with a lot of different people at these events, and they hold a range of job responsibilities, with varying degrees of trade compliance expertise. One of the questions I am frequently asked is: What trade regulations should I be concerned about that I may not be aware of today?
Topics: Export Management, Deemed Exports, Export Compliance
